News roundup: Boehner to Chaffetz on Benghazi: 'Be patient'

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Tornado kills dozens in Oklahoma. Hatch may back immigration reform. House speaker to Chaffetz: be patient.

'Tis Tuesday, and the nation is in mourning after a powerful tornado ripped through Oklahoma City and a suburb, killing at least 51 people, including 20 children. Two schools were destroyed by the strong winds and scores of homes leveled in what may be one of the most deadliest tornadoes in American history. [NBCNews]

Topping the news: Sen. Orrin Hatch says he'll back immigration reform if Democrats go along with some of the measures he's put forward, a move that could help the bipartisan measure make it through the Senate. [Trib] (More coverage of the immigration bill below.)

-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz says House Speaker John Boehner told the Utah Republican to be patient on the Benghazi investigation because more will come out about it, but Chaffetz says he's not a patient person. [NRO]

-> Prominent Utah Republicans looking to launch an initiative drive to add an alternative to snagging a ballot spot say they want to take a "breather" before deciding their next step after party delegates rejected a change. But it may be a short break. [DNews] [UtahPolicy]

From @TonyFratto: "I, for one, welcome our new first amendment trampling overlords."

From @JoshMalina: "Jay Carney needs a spokesman."

Happy birthday: To Elly Muth.

Coming today: Sen. Orrin Hatch and the Senate Finance Committee get a chance to grill the past two acting commissioners from the Internal Revenue Service this morning. And Hatch tells us he thinks its odd President Barack Obama's top advisers were aware of the investigation into IRS targeting of conservative groups but never told him about it."It's pretty hard to believe he didn't know about it," he said.And if Obama's advisers really didn't tell him, Hatch thinks they should have."When you are staffing the president of the United States and you see something that is coming down the line that could just kill him, you better tell him about it."

-> Meanwhile, Hatch and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus requested a slew of IRS documents as part of the probe. [TPM]

In other news: Rep. Rob Bishop wants an accounting for how the Eisenhower Memorial Foundation has spent taxpayer money thrown its way to build a remembrance for the former president. [Examiner]

-> State Sen. Howard Stephenson has opened a bill file to encourage Baretta to come to Utah to manufacture its guns after the company got upset with Maryland's new gun-control laws. [Trib]

-> Counties suing the feds over roads they believe were covered under the now-repealed RS2477 statute will get financial help from the state of Utah for their legal costs. [Trib]

-> Hatch's effort to increase penalties for growing marijuana on public lands also won support of the committee on Monday. [Trib]

-> The committee, too, adopted the first amendments by Sen. Mike Lee, both to re-establish existing law that allows authorities to investigate fraudulent documents used to bypass E-Verify or enter the country. [Trib]

-> Several Utah officials, including the head of the state's Workforce Services office, are taking the challenge to eat on $4 a day, the same amount food stamp recipients get. [Trib]

-> A new study shows that Utah has some of the hardest hit suburbs in a growing trend in suburban poverty. [Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert has named former Jazz player Thurl Bailey as the state's ambassador to the refugee community. [DNews]

-> Public comments are sought on proposals to bring more recycling to the Salt Lake Valley. [Trib]

-> Less than halfway through 2013, the number of guns seized at Salt Lake International Airport is about the same as all of last year. [Trib]

-> A district court judge continued a temporary order against the Millard School District tearing down two high school gyms until he can decide whether the district complied with open meetings laws. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on the FBI's keen interest in the press. [Trib]

Nationally: Mitt Romney has some advice for potential 2016 presidential candidates, one of which is to get used to Iowa's corn dogs. [WaPost]

-> Several top White House aides knew of the now-publicly available report on the IRS scrutiny over tea party-related groups but did not tell President Barack Obama, who says he learned about it from news reports. [Politico]

-> A Fox News reporter may face criminal charges in a probe to see who leaked classified information. Read the warrant issued against the reporter and the intrigue here: [AtlanticWire].

-> After the Benghazi fallout, the United States is toughening up its embassy and consulate security, adding cameras and fire gear as well as additional training for those stationed in high-risk areas. [NYTimes]

Rep. Rob Bishop lunches with Herbert, meets with Col. Radcliff, commander of the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, sits down with reps from the American Association of Diabetes Educators, hits a House Rules Committee hearing, meets with Col. Kolbe regarding sequestration and furloughs at Hill AFB, meets with the Endangered Species Act working Group and officials from the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz heads with the Utah delegation to a meeting at the Pentagon, hits a Judiciary Committee mark up, sits down with Gov. Gary Herbert and the delegation, meets with National Air Traffic Controllers and attends a Microsoft demonstration.

Rep. Chris Stewart meets with Air Force Chief of Staff Mark Welsh at the Pentagon, attends a Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee hearing, hits a Public Lands Committee hearing and attends the delegation lunch with Herbert.

Gov. Gary Herbert is in D.C. to testify before the Natural Resources subcommittee on public lands.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker meets with department directors, gets a briefing on the performing arts center and attends the City Council meeting.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder conducts the City Council meeting and attends the Crossing Guard Annual Banquet.

President Barack Obama speaks about the Oklahoma tornado in a morning address, meets with immigrants spared deportation by his DREAM Act-like executive order and later sits down with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]

 Thomas BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburr

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